Rob, we are arguing about semantics then. I used the word great flippantly.

They're certain a top European side, however, and my last post is why people think that.

melton

united got to a final in 2011 and were far from a great team. in 2010 bayern had the devils luck to make the final if you watched that fiorentina game.
a truly great team wouldn't have choked against chelsea at home in the final.

look, bayern could well prove me wrong but until they actually succeed in something big they'll just be an unfulfilled golden generation. much like their national side who also have shown a tendency to lose when it matters

a recent tendency with a lot of these players i mean. previous German sides had that winning mentality

You have very high standards then Rob!

I have to say though, I do agree in that I don't think they will win the CL either. All of the german teams have been slightly overrated this year for me. As I said, capable of utter brilliance. Capable of utter rubbish at the same time, though.

fair point melton.

after last night i doubt anyone will beat barca. i want to see dortmund against barca simply to see dortmund have a real go.

Rob, with that I'll agree that they aren't a great side - but I don't think that is what people are saying, they're saying they are a top class European side capable of winning the CL.

The only truly great sides in the last few years are Barca, Spain and arguably United when we had Ronaldo.

Yeah, would be a good game. I still wouldn't discount Real just yet. All depends on the draw for the next round for me.

we're not too far apart then Darren. for me they need to do more. maybe they will but we shall see. who do you feel will win the cup?

"The only truly great sides in the last few years are Barca, Spain and arguably United when we had Ronaldo."

I'd include Mourinho's Inter if you are including United with Ronaldo Darren, they were definitely up there.

I want to see ze Germans vs Barca. I think both teams are capable of it, however, that doesn't mean they will. You just don't know what side will turn up on the days.

I'll keep saying it until I'm blue in the face though: Real are the team I think will realistically defeat Barcelona.

Good shout, Melton.

I'm not too sure who will win, to be honest. As good as Barca are you just don't know what you're going to get with them. And bar last night they're underwhelmed me against the better opposition so I don't think they're overwhelming favourites.

I think it will be one of Bayern, Real and Barca though as I cannot see past these 3. I know that is stating the obvious but predicting the CL is too hard.

i wouldnt discount galatasaray. not saying I'd put any money on them but they have a great home crowd and the likes of drogba, sneijder and yilmaz.
with a bit of luck i could see them get to the final

It's not just bayern everyone creams over on this site, it's the bundesliga too, why i don't know, you have 2 sides who would make the top 6 in the prem, the majority of the others are terrible, german football might be good for the fans with the cheap ticketing and full stadiums but it lags way behind the prem on quality.

Maybe, a lot will depend on the draw. I'm not sure they'll get to the final but they might get to the semi.

It'd be funny if Dortmund, Bayern, Real and Barca are all on one side of the draw someone like Malaga or Gala get to the final.

yeah these quarters would be funny

barca vs real
dortmund vs bayern
psg vs galatasaray
malaga vs juventus

the sponsors would be annoyed

That would be amazing.

I'd personally like to see:

Barca vs Bayern
Real vs PSG
Galatasaray vs Dortmund
Juve vs Malaga

I agree with the OP. I can't understand why they are so highly rated by 'pundits'.
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Because its fashionable to say these days that byren is their most favorite team and its German era, Germany is the roll model for other European nations etc etc.

German N ational team and thier clubs are on a high but the the blind over hyping of German football in English media is pretty laughable. looks like now that English commentators and public has come with idea that they are not going to win any thing major any time soon, they have decided to support German teams for some sort of consolation.

By the way im sure if Juventus are drawn against Byren in the QFs, they ll knock Byren out.

Byren i must going to kill myself

more mistakes, i swear i'm not drunk

Just to kill a myth, German stadiums are not always full at all and the reason tickets cost less than over here is due to the infrastructure and surrounding area to the stadia is supported by local councils so their council tax is massive instead.

the people who reckon they're a better side than real or barca. and there are people on here who think that.

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It would be useful if you could identify the posters who have said this instead of just generalising because I haven't seen one person who have said that Bayern are a better side than either Barcelona or Real Madrid, myself included and I do rate this Bayern team highly as do I Dortmund and you know I do watch a lot of these two in the Bundesliga.

IMHO, Barcelona are still the team to beat, regardless if people think Madrid have now somehow "got their number".

If Barcelona play like we all know they can play, there's IMO not a team on earth who can deal with them and handle the speed in which they pass the ball or the intensity in which they press the opposition.

I would put Barcelona in a bracket of their own, followed in a 2nd bracket by the likes of Madrid, ourselves and Bayern because all of those teams are capable of beating each other. I'm a little hesitant on putting Dortmund in there even though I know how good they can be because although they've beaten Madrid already this season and drawn with them, they've not faced one of the better sides in the knockout rounds and the same would apply to the current Juventus team also so it would be good to see both of those sides properly tested in the latter rounds.

Bayern are no doubt an excellent side. Tonight's performance was not a true reflection of them. They were far from convincing but yet still dominated an Arsenal side who took what little chances they had and defended superbly. I believe they're fully capable of beating most teams as I've already said but not a Barcelona team in full flow but that's nothing to be ashamed of and that doesn't mean they're not an excellent side or are overrated.

They've swept aside almost all before them in the Bundesliga this season and German domestic football in general. They beat Arsenal convincingly at the Emirates and if hadn't have been for what can only be described as a pathetic attitude tonight, I believe they would've beaten Arsenal again.

can't argue with that red side.

i would say that after arsenal scored in the first leg a better side than arsenal would have gone on to score more in that tie.

but agreed about barca. going to take a lot to stop them

Red Sides comments are spot on. Bayern are a brilliant team but everyone understands when Barca get it right like on Tuesday there isn't another team on the planet who come close.

There's a reason Pep decided to join Bayern, they're probably the closest team to Barca on the planet in more ways than one.

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ttliv

not easily mate and its comments like that which make me think theyre overrated.

how are they easily better than United, ac milan, juventus, dortmund or even Malaga or Chelsea who they found hard to beat on their own ground last season?

they are a good team but theyve done absolutely nothing to show that they deserve the mythical title of 'easily' third best team in europe.